[Study of alveolar macrophages stimulated with zymosan in vivo using fluorescent probes].

Zymosan granules injected intravenously (100 mg per kg of body weight) to Wistar rats induced strong stimulation of mononuclear phagocyte system. On day 5 zymosan-induced recruitment of monocyte-like cells with high consuming and bactericidal activity into lung spaces could be observed. Using fluorescent probes, it was discovered that the size of alveolar cell membranes in zymosan-stimulated or non-stimulated animals was similar, while the viscosity of membrane lipids of alveolar macrophages was considerably lower in zymosan-stimulated rats. These variations are suggested to be responsible for antiinflammatory and bactericidal macrophage potentials.